SOROSIS 


ORIGIN 


AND  HISTORY 


.;K\‘ir'.' 


•fhyl;  ,' 


LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


374.3 

C87s 


I The  person  charging  this  material  is  re- 
1 sponsible  for  its  return  to  the  library  from 
I which  it  was  withdrawn  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below. 

Theft,  mutilation,  and  underlining  of  books  are  reasons 
for  disciplinary  action  and  may  result  in  dismissal  from 
the  University. 

To  renew  call  Telephone  Center,  333-8400 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/sorosisitsoriginOOcrol 


X 


SOROSIS 

Its  Origin  and  History 


MRS.  CROLY 


NEW  YORK 

PRESS  OF  J,  J.  LITTLE  & CO. 
1886 


3 7 VO 

<t?7s 


TO 

THE  STRONG,  TRUE  HEART  OF  SOROSIS, 
WHICH  FOR  TEN  YEARS 
HAS  UPHELD  MY  WEAK  HANDS, 


I DEDICATE  THESE  PAGES. 


’ll 


SOROSIS: 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


BY  MRS.  CROLY. 

It  was  in  March,  1868,  that  the  Press  Club  of  New 
York,  an  association  comprising  nearly  all  the  leading 
journalists,  offered  to  Mr.  Charles  Dickens,  prior  to  his 
departure  for  his  home  in  England,  after  a successful 
reading  tour  in  this  country,  a dinner  at  Delmonico's 
which  was  to  be  of  an  unprecedented  character.  Upon 
the  executive  committee  which  had  it  in  charge  was  Mr. 
D.  G.  Croly,  then  managing  editor  of  the  New  York 
World,  and  through  him  his  wife,  also  a well-known 
journalist,  applied  for  a ticket  to  the  dinner  at  the  regu- 
lar rate  (fifteen  dollars),  claiming  it  on  the  ground  that 
the  entertainment  was  offered  as  a compliment  by  the 
“Press”  of  New  York  to  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
members  of  the  profession,  and  her  own  position,  as  a 
member  of  the  Press  in  good  and  regular  standing.  The 
majority  of  the  committee  were  at  first  inclined  to  treat 
the  application  as  a joke;  but  Mr.  James  Parton,  who  was 
one  of  them,  took  it  seriously.  He  approved  of  it,  and 
at  the  next  meeting  of  the  committee  reinforced  it  by 
presenting  a similar  application  from  his  own  wife,  a 
writer  known  as  “ Fanny  Fern.”  This  complicated  the 


6 


soROSis : 


matter,  other  applications  followed,  and  the  question  at 
last  reached  the  ears  of  Mr.  Horace  Greeley,  the  veteran 
editor  of  the  New  York  Tribune^  who  had  promised  to 
preside  on  the  occasion,  but  declared  he  would  not  unless 
the  ‘‘women  had  a chance”  as  well  as  the  men.  This 
compelled  the  committee  to  do  something,  and  a reluc- 
tant note  was  sent  to  Mrs.  Croly  three  days  before  the 
dinner  was  to  take  place,  stating  that  if  a sufficient  num- 
ber of  ladies  could  be  found  willing  to  pay  fifteen  dollars 
each  for  their  tickets,  to  make  a good  showing,  and  pre- 
vent each  other  from  feeling  lonely,  they  would  be  per- 
mitted to  purchase  them.  This  churlish  and  conditional 
assent,  at  such  a late  date,  was  a practical  refusal,  and 
Mrs.  Croly  replied  in  a few  words,  simply  saying  that  as 
the  ladies  had  not  been  treated  like  gentlemen,  they 
now  refused  to  avail  themselves  of  the  possible  oppor- 
tunity. 

During  the  intervening  time  the  matter  had  been  the 
subject  of  conversation  at  the  Sunday  evening  receptions 
of  the  Misses  Alice  and  Phebe  Cary,  and  had  interested 
not  only  those  ladies  but  Mrs.  Charlotte  B.  Wilbour,  one 
of  their  friends,  and  the  wife  of  a New  York  journalist, 
who  had  been  one  of  the  applicants  for  a lady’s  ticket 
on  behalf  of  his  wife.  It  was  at  the  “ Light  Gymnastic  ” 
School  of  Mrs.  Z.  R.  Plumb  that  Mrs.  Croly  about  the 
same  time  met  Miss  Kate  Field,  and  propounded  the 
subject  to  her  of. a “Woman’s  Club.”  Miss  Field  was 
struck  with  the  idea,  and  begged  permission  to  com- 
municate it  to  Mrs.  Henry  M.  Field,  and  it  was  agreed, 
at  the  same  time,  that  Mrs.  Croly  should  endeavor  to 
secure  the  co-operation  of  Mrs.  Professor  Botta.  Pur- 
suant to  this  arrangement  a meeting  for  consultation  was 
called  for  the  following  Monday  at  the  residence  of 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


7 


Mrs.  Croly,  in  West  Fourteenth  Street,  at  which  the  fol- 
lowing ladies  were  present : Mrs.  Botta,  Mrs.  H.  M. 
Field,  Miss  Kate  Field,  Mrs.  C.  B.  Wilbour,  and  Mrs. 
Croly. 

The  latter,  on  being  asked  to  state  the  object  in  view, 
briefly  recounted  the  facts  in  regard  to  the  treatment  of 
women  members  of  the  Press  by  the  New  York  Press 
Club,  and  said  her  idea  was  simply  to  supply  the  want 
of  unity  and  secular  organization  among  women.  Many 
women,  she  herself  among  the  rest,  were  hungry  for  the 
society  of  women,  that  is,  for  the  society  of  those  whose 
deeper  natures  had  been  roused  to  activity,  who  had 
been  seized  by  the  divine  spirit  of  inquiry  and  aspiration, 
who  were  interested  in  the  thought  and  progress  of  the 
age,  and  in  what  other  women  were  thinking  and  doing. 
No  plan  of  work  had  been  laid  down,  or  system  of  organi- 
zation, because  these  must  be  the  outgrowth  of  what 
were  felt  to  be  the  wants  of  the  membership,  and  the  first 
thing  to  do  was  to  consider  a basis. 

Mrs.  Botta  recommended  taking  the  bull  by  the 
horns,”  and  calling  it  the  Blue  Stocking  Club.”  This 
was  opposed  on  the  ground  that  it  would  tend  to  make  it 
too  strictly  literary.  The  first  club,  it  was  felt,  must  be 
homogeneous — hospitable  to  women  of  different  minds, 
degrees,  and  habits  of  work  and  thought — it  must  be  rep- 
resentative of  the  whole  woman,  not  of  any  special  class 
of  women,  for  the  idea  of  clubs  for  women  was  too  new 
to  admit  of  a system  of  exclusion  and  division ; besides 
which,  it  was  opposed  to  the  spirit  of  club  life.  A note 
of  invitation  was,  however,  agreed  upon,  signed  by  all 
present.  Miss  Kate  Field  acting  as  secretary,  and  a num- 
ber of  names  suggested  to  whom  it  should  be  sent.  In 
the  meantime  Miss  Field  announced  her  expectation  of 


8 


soROSis : 


being  absent  in  Boston,  and  Mrs.  Wilbour  was  requested 
to  act  as  secretary  pro  tern. 

The  second  preparatory  meeting  was  called  for  the 
succeeding  Monday,  at  the  same  time  and  place,  in  the 
afternoon,  at  Mrs.  Croly’s  house  in  West  Fourteenth 
Street.  But  previous  to  its  assembling  and  during  the 
intervening  days,  many  events  occurred  which  threatened 
to  ‘‘  nip  **  the  new  organization  in  the  bud,  and  postpone 
the  work  it  was  destined  to  do  for  women.  Among  these 
were  letters  of  withdrawal  from  Mrs.  Field,  and  Mrs. 
Botta,  the  former  on  the  ground  of  immediate  and  long 
continued  absence  from  the  city,  the  latter,  the  opposition 
of  her  husband.  Miss  Field,  as  anticipated,  was  absent 
in  Boston.  This  defection  left  the  burden  of  responsibil- 
ity entirely  upon  the  shoulders  of  Mrs.  Croly  and  Mrs. 
Wilbour ; who  determined  to  shoulder  and  carry  it  the 
best  way  they  could.  On  Sunday  afternoon  preceding 
the  eventful  Monday,  they  met  at  Mrs.  Wilbour’s  house. 
Mrs.  Croly,  had  prepared  a little  platform  as  a basis  of 
future  operations,  and  Mrs.  Wilbour  some  brief  rules  for 
guidance,  the  two  formulas  were  put  together  and  formed 
the  first  Constitution  ” of  which  the  founders  agreed, 

the  less  there  was  the  better.”  The  following  is  a copy 
of  a proof-sheet  as  given  to  the  New  York  World : 

SOROSIS. 

The  object  of  this  association  is  to  promote  agreeable  and  useful 
relations  among  women  of  literary  and  artistic  tastes. 

It  is  entirely  independent  of  sectionalism,  or  partisanship. 

It  recognizes  women  of  thought,  culture  and  humanity  everywhere, 
particularly  when  these  qualities  have  found  expression  in  outward 
life  and  work. 

It  aims  to  establish  a kind  of  freemasonry  among  women  of  similar 
pursuits,  to  render  them  helpful  to  each  other,  and  bridge  over  the 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


9 


barrier  which  custom  and  social  etiquette  place  in  the  way  of  friendly 
intercourse. 

It  affords  an  opportunity  for  the  discussion  among  women,  of  new 
facts  and  principles,  the  results  of  which  promise  to  exert  an  impor- 
tant influence  on  the  future  of  women  and  the  welfare  of  society. 

BUSINESS. 

Members  are  elected  by  ballot. 

The  initiation  fee  is  $5. 

The  members  meet  once  a month  for  business,  which  will  be  trans- 
acted in  order,  and  for  lunch  and  social  conversation. 

Each  member  present  at  a regular  meeting  bears  her  proportion 
of  the  expense  incurred. 

At  any  special  meeting  every  member  notified  bears  her  proportion 
of  the  expense  incurred. 

No  public  notice  is  given  of  meetings. 

ETIQUETTE. 

Members  can  invite  friends  to  a regular  meeting,  on  assuming  the 
extra  expense. 

Ladies  receiving  an  invitation  to  any  meeting  will  return  answer 
of  acceptance  or  declination  three  days  previous  to  the  date  of  meet- 
ing. 

At  all  meetings  lunch  will  be  ordered  by  the  Committee,  who  will 
attend  to  the  reception  and  introduction  of  members  and  invited 
guests. 

Business  letters  and  orders  for  insignia,  note  paper,  and  envelopes 
with  the  monogram,  are  sent  to  the  treasurer. 


This  is  getting  a little  ahead  of  the  story,  for  a name 
had  not  yet  been  found  for  the  infant,  and  it  was  not 
known,  indeed,  if  it  was  destined  to  existence  in  the  world 
of  fact,  at  all.  Fears  and  anxieties  were  uppermost,  for 
the  doctors  had  left  it  and  the  nurses  distrusted  their  own 
ability.  Counsel  had  been  taken  in  regard  to  a name, 
and  several  varieties  of  Bee  lighting  upon,  or  crawling 


lO 


soRosis : 


out  of  a blue  stocking  had  been  sketched  by  way  of  ex- 
periment, but  the  first  objection  remained  in  force.  To 
quote  from  a recent  historic  sketch,  given  on  the  Six- 
teenth Anniversary  of  Sorosis  : ‘‘Call  it  the  ‘Woman’s 
League,”’  said  Miss  Kate  Field,  “and  it  will  have  politi- 
cal backing,  be  a sort  of  woman’s  supplement  to  the 
Union  League  Club.”  Miss  Alice  Cary  suggested  the 
“ Sphynx,”  when  she  was  consulted,  and  Miss  Phebe 
Cary  the  “Columbia,”  but  the  “Blue  Stocking”  seemed 
to  narrow  it,  and  confine  it  to  women  of  strictly  literary 
pursuits,  and  it  did  not  want  political  backing,  or  to  be 
suspected  of  belligerent  tendencies,  so  we  got  rid  of 
League.  “ Sphynx  ” appeared  to  hide  a mystery,  and  we 
wished  to  do  things  openly  and  without  concealment, 
and  “ Columbia”  was  too  common  and  hackneyed.  To 
find  a name  Mrs.  Wilbour  and  I hunted  through  piles  of 
dictionaries,  or  rather  we  placed  piles  before  us,  with  the 
intention  of  hunting  through  them,  but  in  the  first  one  I 
pounced  upon,  which  happened  to  be  a botanical  diction- 
ary, I found  the  word  “Sorosis and  liked  it  for  its  full, 
appropriate  signification,  its  unhackneyed  character  and 
sweet  sound,  which  seemed  to  me  full  of  all  gracious 
meaning.  Mrs.  Wilbour  at  first  thought  it  would  require 
too  much  explanation,  and  suggested  that  we  should  ask 
Mr.  Wilbour’s  opinion,  whose  literary  taste  and  experi- 
ence were  unquestionable.  We  did  so,  and  he  thought  it 
a good  word  and  good  name,  so  we  adopted  it,  and 
the  next  day  (this  was  Sunday)  the  society  was  organ- 
ized under  it,  with  twelve  members ; Mrs.  Celia  Bur- 
leigh being  one  of  the  twelve,  not  then  so  well  known 
as  afterward — though  she  had  written  some  poems,  Mme. 
E.  L.  Demorest,  and  others  as  well  known.  The  presi- 
dency of  the  new  Club  was  offered  to  Mrs.  Croly,  but  she 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY.  II 

i 

I 

I refused  to  accept  it,  alleging  her  desire  to  remain  a 
' worker  in  the  ranks,  and  the  desirability  of  finding  a 
I president  whose  name  would  confer  distinction  upon  the 
I as  yet  unknown  ^‘Club.’* 

j Alice  Cary,  the  poet  of  American  women,  was  Mrs. 
i Croly’s  choice,  and  at  her  personal  solicitation,  as  told 
j in  the  memoir  of  the  sisters,  by  Mary  Clemmer,  though 
; in  very  feeble  health,  she  accepted  the  position,  and 
thus  the  first  printed  list  of  officers  became  : 

1 

1 President — Alice  Cary,  53  East  Twentieth  Street ; 

i 

Vice-President — Jennie  C.  Croly,  World  Office  ; 

; Corresponding  Secretary — Kate  Field,  Tribune  Of- 
* fice  ; 

Committee — Phebe  Cary,  53  East  Twentieth  Street ; 
Ella  Clymer,  79  East  Fifteenth  Street ; Celia  M.  Bur- 
^ leigh,  37  Huntingdon  Street,  Brooklyn  ; Josephine  Pol- 
lard, 409  West  Eighteenth  Street  ; Lucy  Gibbons,  212 
Fifth  Avenue  ; Ellen  Louise  Demorest,  813  Broadway. 

Charlotte  B.  Wilbour,  Recording  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer^ 15 1 East  Fifty-first  Street. 

The  list,  in  the  exact  order  given,  is  copied  from  the 
first  form  of  Constitution  issued,  and  remained  in  force 
until  the  first  meeting  at  Delmonico’s,  which  occurred  on 
April  20,  1868,  and  to  which  the  members  were  bidden 
" by  the  following  invitation  : 


12 


soROSis : 


OAjgy  ZS*  a^eyCt.^^^ 

?'7z^czy'Ci^^rC^^  ^tyC' 

’ 

ci^cyy^ycyji^^  £l^  ^ 

C(f^l^  j^tyT'tre^J^ Ciy^ 

a^t;k^  >7V-/-7U>' 

/^y  r.c^ 


c,/^.  ^^Z* 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


13 


On  this  occasion  Mrs.  Croly  had  to  preside,  Miss 
Alice  Cary  not  being  present,  but  Miss  Kate  Field  was 
there,  and  she  had  come  determined  to  get  rid  of  the 
name  Sorosis,  and  substitute  the  ^‘Woman’s  League.'' 
With  her  was  Mrs.  James  T.  Field,  of  Boston,  and  in 
the  then  weak  and  inchoate  condition  of  the  club  mem- 
bership, she  managed  to  carry  so  much  weight,  as  to 
have  the  name  set  aside,  and  the  ‘‘Woman’s  League” 
adopted.  The  change  was  at  last  acquiesced  in,  because 
a considerable  majority  seemed  to  be  in  favor  of  it,  in- 
cluding Miss  Phebe  Cary,  and  others  of  equal  promi- 
nence, but  it  was  soon  found  to  have  been  a mistake, 
even  by  some  who  had  urged  it.  The  more  they  thought 
of  “Woman's  League  ” the  less  they  liked  it,  and  at  the 
next  meeting  (in  May),  Mrs.  Ella  Clymer,  who  had  voted 
for  it,  brought  in  a resolution  of  reconsideration,  which 
cleared  the  way  for  a second  ballot,  and  Sorosis  was 
restored  by  an  overwhelming  vote.  This  action  cost  the 
Club  the  co-operation  of  Miss  Field,  Mrs.  Longstreet 
(then  Mrs.  Gildersleeve),  and  Mrs.  Gibbons,  who  left  the 
room,  and  the  Club,  in  disgust.  Alice  Cary  presided  at 
this  meeting,  and  read  her  inaugural  address,  but  the 
conflict  of  opinions  agitated  her,  her  nervous  system  was 
not  equal  to  the  strain,  and  she  resigned  the  following 
week  from  the  presidency,  though  continuing  her  mem- 
bership, as  did  also  her  sister,  Phebe. 

But  notwithstanding  these  inevitable  commotions,  the 
Club  was  happy,  its  membership  from  less  than  fifteen 
had  increased  to  fifty,  it  began  to  see  the  uses  of  its  ex- 
istence, and  enjoy  its  life.  On  Monday,  June  i,  1868, 
it  met,  and  found  an  immense  circular  basket  of  roses, 
with  center  of  white  carnations,  and  upon  this,  “ Soro- 
sis ” in  violets.  Who  sent  it  no  one  seemed  to  know,  but 


14 


soROsis  : 


the  roses  were  arranged  for  distribution,  and  the  center 
as  a permanent  decoration  for  the  table,  and  as  the  mem- 
bers came  in,  and  saw  it,  they  clasped  hands,  and  tears 
stood  in  many  eyes.  They  had  battled  for  their  name  ; 
they  had  planted  it,  and  now  they  watered  it,  and  felt 
that  it  would  grow.  Probably  not  more  than  one  beside 
herself  ever  knew  that  the  roses  and  the  christening  were 
the  work  of  Mme.  E.  L.  Demorest.  There  were  many 
incidents  about  those  early  days,  which  are  interesting,  at 
least  to  those  who  recall  them,  but  time  nor  space  do 
not  admit  of  their  recapitulation,  nor  are  they  perhaps  of 
sufficient  general  interest  to  warrant  dwelling  upon  them 
to  the  exclusion  of  circumstances  which  exerted  a more 
potent  influence.  One  thing,  however,  should  be  said  for 
the  benefit  of  recent  members,  and  it  is  this : to  Mrs. 
Wilbour  we  owe  the  Pledge.  I should  not,  myself,'* 
said  Mrs.  Croly  in  her  recent  address,  have  introduced 
that  into  our  assumption  of  obligations,  it  did  not  seem 
to  me  that  we  needed  it,  but  the  Pledge  has  now  grown 
dear  to  us  all ; it  has  become  a tie,  it  seems  to  bind  us 
together,  and  sometimes  it  is  a needed  reminder  of  what 
we  owe  to  each  other.** 

A Woman's  Club  was  naturally  the  object  of  many 
gibes  and  sneers,  much  ridicule,  and  cheap  attempts  at 
wit,  during  the  first  months  of  its  existence.  An  editor 
of  one  of  the  New  York  dailies  prophesied  its  early 
death,  and  said  many  men  would  have  to  recant  their 
opinions  in  regard  to  women,  if  it  lived  out  a year.  The 
young  members  of  to-day  will  wonder  why  all  this  fuss 
could  have  been  made  about  a merd  society  of  women. 
But  they  must  remember  that  eighteen  years  ago  social 
and  secular  organization  among  women  did  not  exist. 
There  were  no  State  Aid  Societies,  no  Women's  Ex- 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


15 

changes,  no  Kitchen  Garden  Associations,  or  Industrial 
Unions,  or  Workingwomen’s  Clubs,  no  Church  or  Mis- 
sionary Societies  officered  and  carried  on  exclusively  by 
women.  No  purely  women’s  societies  at  all,  outside  of 
the  sewing  circle,  and  even  in  these  men  had  a share ; 
and  it  was  doubted,  by  many  good  men  and  women, 
whether  a secular  society  of  women,  of  different  tastes, 
habits  and  pursuits,  and  with  no  special  object  to  bind 
them,  could  hang  together  for  any  length  of  time. 

The  following,  which  was  copied  into  the  World  about 
this  time,  will  give  an  idea  of  the  general  sentiment,  and 
it  also  includes  a letter  addressed  to  a male  applicant  for 
admission  to  Sorosis,  which  became  famous,  and  which  it 
has  been  requested  should  be  preserved  in  this  veritable 
history. 

{From  the  World"'  of  June y 1868.) 

“ The  London  Queen^  the  leading  English  ladies’  paper,  is  quite 
exercised  over  the  doings  of  our  New  York  Sorosis.  It  quotes  all  it 
can  find  about  that  famous  Club  from  the  Worlds  and  comments 
upon  the  reports  freely.  We  find  the  following  in  its  issue  of  June 
I2th : 

‘“The  “ Sorosis,”  the  women’s  club. which  exists  in  New  York, 
has  been  brought  before  the  readers  of  the  Queen  on  more  than  one 
occasion  lately.  It  is  a society  of  women,  many  of  them  literary, 
meeting  for  the  sake  of  mutual  improvement  and  pleasant  social 
intercourse.  Men  are  invited  to  be  present  at  the  entertainments 
given  by  the  members  of  Sorosis,  but  they  are  entirely  in  the 
subordinate  position  of  guests  and  listeners.  The  toast  of  “ The 
Gentlemen  ” was  given  at  one  of  their  parties  by  a lady,  and  re- 
sponded to  on  behalf  of  the  “ weaker  brethren,”  by  another  lady. 

“ ‘A  good  deal  of  head  shaking  and  holding  up  of  hands  in 
wonder,  at  the  proceedings  of  the  Sorosis,  have  been  indulged  in  on 
our  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  certainly  it  would  be  very  difficult  to 
conceive  a body  of  English  ladies,  even  of  those  who  have  the  most 


i6 


soROSis : 


advanced  views  as  to  women’s  rights  and  who  are  most  accustomed 
to  addressing  the  public,  acting  quite  as  the  members  of  Sorosis  have 
done.  The  idea  is  a ludicrous  one  ; but  what  would  be  the  feelings 
of  the  British  public  if  some  fine  morning  it  were  announced  in  the 
Times  that  a number  of  ladies — say  Mme.  Bodichon,  Miss  Emily 
Davies,  Miss  Garrett,  the  authors  of  Adam  Bede  and  yohn  Halifax 
and  other  well-known  writers,  and  women  whose  names  are  much 
before  the  public — had  invited  the  members  of  a literary  club  to 
dinner,  and  had  made  speeches  and  proposed  toasts?  No  one  would 
believe  it — the  whole  account  would  be  treated  as  a hoax. 

“ ‘But  Sorosis  and  its  doings  are  facts  in  New  York,  and  some- 
what prominent  facts,  too.  We  must  say  that,  though  the  whole  of 
the  proceedings  are  very  un-English,  we  have  seen,  with  much 
amusement,  not  entirely  unmingled  with  mild  satisfaction,  the  very 
decided  position  which  the  members  of  Sorosis  have  taken  with 
regard  to  the  right  of  women  to  have  a society  composed  exclusively 
of  members  of  their  own  sex,  if  they  so  desire  it ; and  we  hope  that 
Sorosis  may  be  able  to  hold  well  together,  if  only  to  prove  that 
women  are  not  destitute  of  the  power  of  acting  harmoniously  to- 
gether when  they  choose  to  do  so. 

“ ‘A  letter,  written  by  Mrs.  Croly,  the  president  of  Sorosis,  to  a 
gentleman  who  applied  for  admission  to  membership  in  the  club,  is 
thoroughly  amusing,  as  exemplifying  how  rules  of  exclusion  from 
societies,  on  the  simple  grounds  of  the  sex  of  the  applicant,  can  be 
made  to  work  both  ways.  It  is  not  a little  droll  to  observe,  applied 
to  a man,  the  little  courtesies  and  the  utter  rejection  which  women 
have  been  made  to  experience,  when  they  have  presumed  to  request 
admission  to  societies  of  men.  There  is  the  same  complacent  ex- 
pression of  superiority  arising  from  assured  position,  and  there  are 
the  same  patronizing  airs  which  are  so  pleasant  to  exercise,  and  so 
unpleasant  to  encounter.  There  is  the  same  softening  of  the  rejec- 
tion by  the  assurance  of  personal  esteem,  and  there  is  a similar  end- 
ing up  with  a hint  of  consideration  in  the  indefinite  future  which 
promises  nothing,  but  tones  down  the  harshness  of  entire  denial. 
Altogether,  we  have  not,  for  a long  time,  seen  anything  more  amus- 
ing in  many  ways  than  the  following  letter  to  a gentleman,  from  the 
president  of  Sorosis  : 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY  : 


17 


‘ “Dear  Sir  : Your  proposition  to  become  a member  of  the 
Sorosis  was  laid  before  the  Executive  Committee,  and  subsequently 
before  the  Club.  I regret  to  say  the  decision  was  not  in  your  favor. 
The  reasons,  it  is  only  fair  to  state,  were  not  those  of  character, 
position,  or  personal  merit,  but  consisted  solely  of  society  restric- 
tions as  to  sex.  Personally,  you  have  been  found  very  agreeable  by 
several  members  of  Sorosis.  Reputation  and  position  are  alike 
unexceptionable  ; but  the  unfortunate  fact  of  your  being  a man 
outweighs  these  and  all  other  claims  to  membership. 

“ ‘ “We  willingly  admit,  of  course,  that  the  accident  of  your  sex 
is  on  your  part  a misfortune,  and  not  a fault.  Nor  do  we  wish  to 
arrogate  anything  to  ourselves  because  we  had  the  good  fortune  to 
be  born  women.  We  sympathize  most  truly  and  heartily  with  you 
and  the  entire  male  creation,  in  their  present  and  prospective  desola- 
tion and  unhappiness  ; but  this  is  all  we  can  do.  Sorosis  is  too 
young  for  the  society  of  gentlemen,  and  must  be  allowed  time  to 
grow.  By  and  by,  when  it  has  reached  a proper  age,  say  twenty-one, 
it  may  ally  itself  with  the  Press  Club,  or  some  other  male  organiza- 
tion of  good  character  and  standing  ; but  for  years  to  come  its  reply 
to  all  male  suitors  must  be,  ‘ Principles,  not  men.* 

“ ‘ “Jennie  June  Croly, 

“ ‘ “ President  of  Sorosis. 

“ ‘ “Mr.  R.  B.  Roosevelt.”  ’ ** 

The  allusions  in  the  preceding  were  to  a series  of  enter- 
tainments, the  first  one  of  which  was  offered  as  an  amende 
honorable  on  the  part  of  the  New  York  Press  Club,  and 
consisted  of  a Breakfast,”  to  which  the  Press  Club 
invited  Sorosis,  but  did  not  invite  it  to  speak,  or  do  any- 
thing but  sit  still,  and  eat,  and  be  talked  and  sung  to. 
The  second  was  a “ Tea”  given  by  Sorosis  to  the  Press 
Club,  at  which  it  did  all  the  talking,  allowing  the  gentle- 
men no  chance  to  speak,  not  even  to  respond  to  their 
own  toast.  The  third  of  these  was  a “ Dinner,”  the 
brightest  and  best  of  the  whole,  at  which  ladies  and 
gentlemen  each  paid  their  own  way  and  shared  equally 
the  honors  and  responsibilities.  Very  lengthy  reports 


i8 


soROsis : 


were  given  of  these  affairs,  from  one  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing extract  is  made  : 

‘‘  The  entire  afifair  was  decidedly  one  of  the  most  delightful  events 
of  the  season,  and  will  long  be  held  in  pleasantest  memory  by  all 
who  had  the  honor  to  participate  in  it.  We  believe  we  violate  no 
secret  when  we  say  that  the  gentlemen  were  most  agreeably  surprised 
to  find  their  rival  club  composed  of  charming  women,  representing 
the  best  aristocracy  of  the  metropolis — the  aristocracy  of  sterling 
good  sense,  earnest  thought,  aspiration,  and  progressive  intellect, 
with  no  perceptible  taint  of  the  traditional  strong-mindedness.  The 
members  of  the  ‘ Sorosis  * were  distinguished  by  a badge  worn  upon 
the  left  shoulder,  consisting  of  a rosette  of  white  lace,  pinned  with  a 
gold  enamel  monogram  ‘ S ’ inscribed  with  the  word  ‘ Sorosis  ’ in 
Greek  characters.  The  display  of  jewels  would  have  done  credit  to 
our  most  fashionable  assemblies,  and  there  were  many  rich  and  ele- 
gant costumes  well  worthy  description ; but  the  prevailing  element 
was  unostentatious  good  taste.  The  event  cannot  but  prove  one  of 
great  significance,  as  giving  impulse  and  direction  to  the  genuinely 
worthy  progressive  tendencies  of  the  day,  and  the  New  York  Press 
Club  may  well  pride  itself  upon  having  been  the  first  to  establish 
such  a precedent.  ” 

It  will  perhaps  not  be  out  of  place  to  give  Alice  Cary’s 
speech  (in  rhyme),  on  this  occasion  : 

“You  know,  my  friends,  through  whose  good  graces 
We  meet  around  this  board  to-day  ; 

It  has  been  said  that  man  embraces 
Woman  : but,  with  your  leave,  I say. 

This  rather  holds  in  special  cases 
Than  in  a general  way. 

* ‘ We  women  have  been  coaxed  and  vaunted. 

Fawned  on  and  flattered  every  way  ; 

But  the  high-honored  place  we  wanted 
Is  ours  in  sober  truth  to-day  ; 

For  with  the  equal  set  is  granted 
The  equal  right  to  pay  ! 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


19 


“ Pardon  the  mention  of  the  shilling — 

(You  see  ’twas  thrown  so  in  my  way), 

And  think  not  that  I speak  as  chilling 
Your  courtesies,  or  courtship,  pray  ; 

For  each  of  us,  our  Barkis  willing, 

Would  name  the  happy  day  ! 

“ We  mean  to  prove  your  praise  no  fable. 

And  while  for  that  good  end  we  pray. 

Let  lightning,  harnessed  to  the  Cable, 

Trample  old  ocean  into  spray 
With  news  that  women  sit  at  table 
Above  the  salt  to-day  ! ” 

It  would  not  be  worth  while  to  make  these  extracts  or 
give  importance  to  these  merely  social  events  did  they 
not  mark  a new  departure  in  our  social  life,  and  consti- 
tute an  actual  social  revolution  achieved  very  quietly, 
almost  without  the  knowledge  of  the  agents,  but  none 
the  less  certainly  and  permanently.  In  one  of  the 
speeches  made  at  the  dinner  referred  to  it  was  said  that 
‘‘  Sorosis  was  building  better  than  it  knew,’'  and  nothing 
could  be  more  true,  for  it  was  working  by  instinct  rather 
than  by  knowledge  ; yet  no  act  was  performed  by  those 
which  laid  the  foundations  of  its  future  that  was  not  the 
result  of  anxious  thought  and  conscientious  conviction. 
It  was  the  movements,  the  first  acts  of  the  club  and  its 
individual  members  during  the  first  years  of  life  that 
struck  the  key-note  of  its  future,  and  made  the  vital  im- 
pression upon  the  public  mind. 

It  was  at  the  November  meeting  of  1868  that  Mrs. 
Celia  Burleigh  read  the  papev  upon  Womanhood,” 
which  suggested  her  possibilities  as  lecturer  and  preacher, 
and  which  was  afterward  enlarged  into  the  first  effort 
which  she  made  for  the  public  lecture  field.  In  it  she 


20 


soROsis : 


spoke  eloquently  of  the  royal  nature  of  the  woman,  of 
her  munificence  and  love  of  giving,  of  the  narrowing  cir- 
cumstances that  dwarfed  her  noblest  instincts,  and  made 
her  slave  and  subject  where  she  should  reign  queen. 
She  demanded  that  woman  should  by  her  own  efforts 
emancipate  herself  from  dependence,  and  learn  to  give 
royally  instead  of  receiving  abjectly.  At  that  meeting 
Mrs.  Burleigh,  as  corresponding  secretary,  read  a letter 
from  Paulina  Wright  Davis,  one  of  the  best  known 
workers  and  highly  cultured  women  of  Rhode  Island, 
from  which  the  following  is  a brief  extract : 

My  Dear  Madame  : An  enthusiastic  letter  about  Sorosis,  just 
received  from  a friend,  recalls  my  promise  to  write  you  a word  of 
encouragement.  I do  so  with  diffidence,  for  I have  lived  so  many 
years  in  retirement  that  I almost  feel  as  if  the  world  had  gone  on  and 
left  me,  and  I had  become  a mere  fossil.  I regret  not  having  been 
able  to  accept  your  invitation  to  attend  a meeting  of  your  club,  that 
I might  personally  have  congratulated  your  members  upon  being  the 
first  to  inaugurate  a movement  that  promises  so  much  for  woman. 
It  is  an  auspicious  hour ; we  are  reorganizing  as  a nation,  socially, 
politically,  and  morally,  and  subjects  of  vital  interest  are  coming 
under  the  careful  consideration  of  the  best  minds.  Among  these  the 
relations  of  the  sexes  hold  an  important  place,  and  that  they  may  be 
more  clearly  understood  in  the  future  than  they  have  been  in  the 
past,  is  felt  to  be  indispensable  to  the  well-being  of  the  race.  To 
your  and  kindred  organizations — to  the  patient  thought  and  investi- 
gation of  noble  men  and  women  must  society  look  for  help  and  direc- 
tion.” 


The  following  series  of  resolutions  were  also  presented 
by  Mrs.  Croly,  and  adopted  unanimously  : 

Resolved^  That  what  women  want  most  of  all  is  freedom — free- 
dom to  do  and  to  be — that  at  present  they  are  born  slaves  to  habit, 
to  custom,  to  prejudice,  to  fashion,  and  finally  to  laws,  which  are 
made  to  govern  the  woman,  but  not  the  human  being. 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


21 


Resolvedy  That  as  one  step,  we  advocate  freedom  in  dress,  not 
necessarily  a reform,  not  at  all  a uniform,  but  freedom  to  wear  the 
useful,  the  convenient,  or  the  beautiful,  as  taste  and  inclination  dic- 
tate, without  reference  to  whether  the  style  is  of  yesterday  or  last 
year. 

Resolved^  That  we  neither  condemn  fashion  nor  ignore  it,  but 
use  it  if  it  suits  us,  or  act  independently  of  it  if  that  suits  us  better. 

“ Resolved,  That  a committee  be  formed  to  take  up  the  question  of 
dress,  discuss  it,  and  prepare  a paper  upon  it,  to  be  read  at  the  next 
regular  club  meeting.” 

During  the  first  year  of  club  life  Sorosis  had  no  presi- 
dent after  Alice  Cary's  resignation,  it  having  been  de- 
cided, pursuant  to  a resolution  presented  by  Mrs.  Wilbour, 
and  supported  by  Mrs.  Croly,  to  elect  a chairman  at 
every  meeting,  and  thus  “ educate  " the  members  gen- 
erally for  the  business  of  presiding  officer.  But  this  was 
found  impracticable  ; the  choice  always  fell  upon  the 
same  persons,  and  the  Club  lost  the  benefit  derived  from 
recognized  guardianship  and  guidance.  The  same  cause 
had  operated  to  prevent  the  adoption  of  any  regular  plan 
or  system  of  work,  and  a determination  was  arrived  at 
to  elect  a president  at  the  close  of  the  year  and  settle 
down  to  some  organized  plan  of  work.  In  December, 
1868,  a charter  was  obtained  by  Mrs.  Agnes  Noble, 
Chairman  of  Executive  Committee,  in  place  of  Miss 
Phebe  Cary,  who  resigned  her  office  when  her  sister 
Alice  resigned  hers ; and  the  Club  became  an  incorpo- 
rated society,  capable  of  receiving  bequests,  a privilege 
of  which,  however,  no  one  has  yet  seen  fit  to  avail 
themselves. 

In  March,  1869,  Mrs.  Croly  was  elected  president  by 
acclamation,  and  in  May  presented  her  plan  of  a 


22 


soROSis : 


“Woman's  Parliament."  This  was  intended  as  a perma- 
nent work  for  Sorosis,  the  Club  to  act  as  the  center  of  a 
great  united  womanhood,  whose  branches  should  extend 
all  over  the  country,  that  these  should  be  representative^ 
elect  their  own  officers,  send  delegates  to  an  annua) 
session,  having  its  permanent  home  in  New  York,  and 
its  representative  organ.  From  a printed  letter  written 
by  “ Burleigh,"  a New  York  correspondent,  the  following 
is  quoted  : 

“ The  object  of  Mrs.  Croly’s  Parliament  is  to  organize  a body  of 
women  to  represent  women  upon  subjects  of  vital  interest  to  them- 
selves and  their  children.  It  is  designed  to  make  it  as  permanent  an 
institution  as  Congress  itself,  with  as  well  defined  a constituency, 
annual  sessions,  and  definite  provision  for  expenses  incurred  ; and  its 
functions  will  be  ‘ to  crystallize  the  intelligence  and  influence  of 
woman  into  a moral  power,  which  will  act  definitely  upon  the  varied 
interests  of  society.’  The  more  immediate  matters  which  are  ex- 
pected to  command  the  attention  of  this  ‘ Parliament  ’ are  those  con- 
nected with  Public  Education,  Prisons  and  Reformatory  Schools^ 
Hygienic  and  Sanitary  Reforms,  Female  Labor,  The  Department  of 
Domestic  Economy,  Dishonesty  in  Public  Life,  etc.  Mrs.  Croly’s 
brief  suggestions  in  relation  to  these  several  topics  show  a good 
degree  of  familiarity  with  the  facts  that  illustrate  them,  and  sound 
views  of  the  various  needs  which  these  facts  indicate.  She  believes 
that  the  ‘ Woman’s  Parliament  will  at  once  give  to  women  that  voice 
in  public  affairs  which  is  theirs  by  virtue  of  their  humanity.’  ‘ It 
offers  to  them  the  privilege  of  the  vote,  without  the  humiliation  of 
asking  for  it  from  those  who  have  no  right  to  withhold  it,’  and  * i'' 
affords  them  the  opportunity  of  showing  that  their  desire  is  for  the 
benefit  and  elevation  of  mankind  at  large,  and  not  a personal  striving 
after  place  and  power.’  ” 

The  measure  was  defeated  in  the  Club  by  the  absence 
of  one  vote,  the  member  supposing  that  she  could  leave 
and  vote  by  proxy,  and  the  opposition  of  two  others  who 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


23 


believed  that  Sorosis  should  exist  for  social  purposes 
purely,  and  took  advantage  of  the  absence  of  the  member 
to  challenge  the  quorum,  which  was  then  much  larger  in 
proportion  than  now.  Some  of  the  members  were,  how- 
ever, strongly  in  favor  of  it,  notably  Mrs.  Celia  Burleigh, 
Dr.  Anna  Dinsmore  French,  then  Dr.  Anna  Dinsmore, 
Mme.  E.  L.  Demorest,  and  others.  From  the  published 
notices  Mrs.  Horace  Mann,  Miss  Elizabeth  Peabody,  and 
Mrs.  Charles  Pierce,  then  of  Cambridge,  now  of  New 
York,  became  interested,  and  the  two  latter  came  from 
Boston  to  attend  a session  pursuant  to  a public  Call,** 
at  which  Miss  Catharine  Sedgewick  was  also  present,  and 
at  which  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : 

“ Whereas,  We  consider  duties  more  important  than  claims  and  the 
dearest  rights  generally  involved  in  the  performance  of  the  most 
sacred  duty,  therefore 

"^Resolved,  That  we  organize  a body  to  be  called  ‘The  Women’s 
Council  of  New  York  City,’  as  a part  of  a great  general  organization 
of  women  to  be  called  ‘ The  Woman’s  Parliament.’ 

Resolved,  That  this  Parliament,  and  all  the  Council  represented  in 
it,  be  composed  of  women  only,  and  that  its  principal  object  shall 
be,  the  moral,  intellectual  and  social  elevation  of  women  through 
their  own  efforts. 

''Resolved,  That  Union  is  Strength,  and  that  instead  of  the  small, 
weak  and  isolated  work  heretofore  performed  by  individuals,  or  at 
most  by  societies,  for  the  removal  of  evils,  we  propose  to  bring  the 
moral  force  of  all  good  women  to  bear  in  given  directions,  and  thus 
secure  for  our  suggestions  and  recommendations  the  respect  and 
authority  due  to  the  collective  public  (?)  opinion  of  the  sex. 

"Resolved,  That  self-help  is  the  best  help  ; and  that  the  elevation 
of  women  must  come  from  within  and  not  from  without. 

"Resolved,  That  charities,  however  extensive,  are  only  palliatives, 
not  cures,  of  social  disease,  and  that  having  learned  how  to  work  in 
the  ‘ small  things  ’ of  their  own  churches  and  communities,  women 
must  now  turn  to  the  ‘ greater  things  ’ of  the  world  itself,  and  bring 


24 


SOROSIS  : 


their  experience  and  their  energies  to  the  task  of  a thorough  social 
regeneration.” 

During  the  three  days’  session,  papers  were  read  by 
Miss  Peabody  (Mrs.  Charles  Pierce),  giving  in  detail  her 
plan  of  co-operative  house-keeping;  one  from  Mrs.  Horace 
Mann  on  Education,”  which  years  afterward  Dr.  Mary 
Putnam- Jacobi  characterized  in  the  Atlantic  Monthly 
as  the  best  paper  ever  given  in  this  country  on  the  sub- 
ject ; one  from  Mrs.  Croly  on  the  Distribution  of  the 
Income  in  the  Family,”  a paper  on  ‘‘Prison  Reform,” 
and  the  legal  status  of  women  in  regard  to  property,  and 
other  important  topics.  The  bearing  this  movement  had 
upon  the  history  of  Sorosis  is  this,  that  its  ideas  were 
those  which  in  one  way  or  another  have  been  incor- 
porated in  the  life  of  Sorosis,  and  subsequently  formed 
the  starting  point  of  the  “Woman’s  Congress.” 

During  this  year  of  1869  the  Club  made  rapid  strides 
toward  settled  forms  of  life,  and  systematized  work. 
Standing  committees  were  organized,  and  the  aim  of  the 
Club  to  represent  the  active  interests  of  women  became 
more  clearly  defined.  At  a meeting  in  May  of  this  year 
Mrs.  Wilbur  offered  the  following  resolution  : 

“To  promote  one  of  the  objects  of  Sorosis,  viz.,  render 
women  helpful  to  each  other,  I move,  Mrs.  President, 
that  we  appoint  at  each  meeting  a Committee  on  Criti- 
cism, to  be  composed  of  three  persons,  who  shall  report 
upon  all  violations  of  business,  order,  incorrect  speech, 
faulty  manners,  and  whatever  would  be  improved  by 
faithful,  intelligent,  and  benevolent  criticism.”  The  reso- 
lution was  supported  by  the  President,  but  objected  to 
by  others,  some  of  whom  thought  it  a good  thing,  but  that 
Sorosis  was  hardly  ready  for  it  yet. 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


25 


Early  in  the  year  a committee  was  formed  for  the  in- 
vestigation and  discussion  of  Foundling  Asylums  in  re- 
lation to  infant  mortality.  At  that  time  no  foundling 
hospital  existed  in  New  York  City,  and  the  subject  had 
received  no  attention  from  the  public.  The  committee 
consisted  of  Mrs.  Celia  Burleigh,  Mme.  E.  L.  Demorest, 
Mrs.  Mary  C.  Owen,  Mrs.  Horace  Greeley,  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Croly,  and  Dr.  Anna  Dinsmore,  the  active  mover  of  the 
resolution.  Dr.  Dinsmore  (Dr.  Anna  D.  French)  put 
herself  in  communication  with  the  representatives  of 
numerous  institutions  of  the  kind,  abroad  and  at  home, 
and  collected  an  astonishing  array  of  facts,  which  were 
presented  to  the  Club,  and  published  in  the  World  news- 
paper, June,  1869.  The  Press  took  up  the  subject,  a 
Protestant  foundling  asylum  was  shortly  instituted,  and 
subsequently  one  by  the  Roman  Catholics. 

The  following  extracts  from  published  reports  of  the 
officers  made  March  21st,  at  the  second  anniversary 
meeting,  will  show  what  was  thought  to  have  been  ac- 
complished at  the  close  of  the  second  year. 

During  that  year  Mrs.  Celia  Burleigh  had  started  the 
Woman’s  Club  of  Brooklyn,  of  which  she  became  the 
president,  and  from  her  closing  report  as  corresponding 
secretary  of  Sorosis  the  following  words  are  copied  which 
will  show  what  the  influence  of  the  Club  was  felt  to  be  on  its 
members  when  it  had  only  been  two  years  in  existence. 
She  said  : <<*  * * The  suggestion  of  a Woman’s  Club  ex- 
cited a degree  of  interest  unlooked  for  and  unprecedented. 
It  was  caricatured,  criticised,  and  misrepresented,  while 
from  women  all  over  the  country  came  eager  questioning 
of  its  aims,  methods,  and  possibilities.  This  handful  of 
women  had  undertaken  to  do  what  seemed  to  them  a very 
simple  thing — provide  for  a want  which  they  in  common 


26 


soROSis : 


with  many  other  women  felt,  and  they  suddenly  found 
themselves  the  subjects  of  sneering  comment  or  vulgar 
would-be  wit  on  the  part  of  the  men,  and  eager  hope  and 
expectation  from  women  from  one  end  of  the  country  to 
the  other.  But  the  central  idea  of  Sorosis  was  vital,  and 
would  neither  consent  to  die  nor  be  suppressed.  The 
originator  of  the  movement,  though  lacking  experience, 
uncertain  of  the  material  that  could  be  brought  together, 
brought  to  the  work  an  earnestness  of  purpose,  a faith  in 
woman,  and  an  invincibility  of  determination  which  could 
not  fail  of  success.  I believe  I express  the  sentiment  of 
every  one  who  has  been  for  any  length  of  time  a member 
of  Sorosis  when  I say  that  the  debt  we  owe  it  is  beyond 
our  power  to  estimate.  Probably  we  have  not  all  been 
equally  benefited,  for  our  needs  are  various  as  our  power 
of  receiving  help,  but  for  myself  I should  be  guilty  of  in- 
gratitude if  I allowed  my  official  connection  to  cease 
without  saying  how  much  I am  its  debtor.  Among  the 
schools  to  which  I have  been  sent,  I reckon  Sorosis  the 
most  valuable,  and  I trust  I shall  be  pardoned  if  I mention 
the  special  good  which  I have  received  at  its  hands.  One 
of  the  greatest  needs  of  women  is  motive  for  mental  activ- 
ity— an  hospitable  entertainment  of  their  thought.  For 
me  Sorosis  met  precisely  this  want ; it  afforded  me  an 
atmosphere  so  genial,  an  appreciation  so  prompt,  a faith 
so  generous,  that  every  possibility  of  my  nature  seemed 
intensified,  and  all  its  latent  powers  quickened  into  life. 
If  in  the  years  to  come  I do  any  worthy  work,  speak  any 
word  that  has  power  to  help  a despondent  soul,  shed  any 
gleam  of  light  on  the  dark  and  dreary  ways  that  so  many 
women  are  called  upon  to  tread,  it  will  be  to  Sorosis  that 
it  will  be  due  in  large  measure — to  this  school  where  I 
have  been  educated  to  better  hopes,  to  nobler  aspirations, 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


27 


and  a larger  life.  As  the  society’s  secretary  I have  been 
the  medium  of  communication  between  it  and  many  noble 
and  gifted  women,  not  only  in  our  own  but  in  other  lands, 
and  I congratulate  Sorosis  on  these  relations,  so  honor- 
able to  itself,  so  helpful  to  women  at  large.” 

The  London  Queen  of  April  i6th,  copies  what  it  calls 
a long  and  curious  ” account  of  the  second  anniversary 
of  the  New  York  Woman’s  Club,  remarking  that  it  is  all 
of  interest,  and  some  of  it  worthy  of  serious  ” considera- 
tion. It  quotes  a part  of  Mrs.  Burleigh’s  address  just 
given,  and  the  following  from  the  address  of  the  retiring 
president,  Mrs.  Croly  : 

“We  have  found  self-education  very  necessary,  and  a woman's 
club  a wonderful  school  as  well  as  most  exact  test  of  genuine  quality. 
Some  have  found  in  Sorosis  a stepping-stone  to  a public  career, 
others  a resting-place  from  labor  and  anxiety — the  pleasant  shadow 
of  a green  tree  in  a weary  land.  But  we  begin  to  realize  the  want  of 
a motive,  apart  from  ourselves,  to  quicken  us  into  permanent  and 
useful  activity.  We  have  been  aware  that  partial,  personal,  and 
selfish  organizations  never  achieve  a great  success,  or  sustain  more 
than  a brief  existence.  But  women  have  difficulties  in  forming  plans 
and  achieving  results  that  do  not  exist  for  men.  In  the  first  place, 
they  are  without  means  ; in  the  second  place,  without  freedom. 
Very  few  women  have  money  of  their  own,  . and  the  few  that  have 
dare  not  use  it.  Their  growth,  therefore,  in  any  direction,  must  be 
very  slow,  especially  if  they  refuse  to  adopt  the  tricks  which  societies 
and  society  countenance  for  obtaining  money  and  palming  off  upon 
the  world  a false  and  baseless  reputation.  We  have  to  congratulate 
ourselves,  at  any  rate,  upon  not  having  done  this.  If  we  have  not 
borrowed  or  built  a club-house,  neither  have  we  borrowed  or  begged 
money  to  do  it  with.  If  we  have  not  founded  asylums  for  helpless 
women,  we  have  done  our  best  to  make  them  helpful,  and  thus  do 
away  with  the  necessity  for  such  institutions.  Moreover,  from  the 
first,  it  was  not  our  intention  to  give  ourselves  to  any  small,  partial, 
individual  or  specific  work.  We  wished  rather  to  infuse  new, 
higher  and  truer  ideas  into  the  life  of  women,  and  thus  become  the 


28 


SOROSIS : 


source  and  inspiration  of  a thousand  active,  beneficent  influences, 
which  would  help  to  lessen  the  causes  of  the  evils  under  which  the 
world  groans  and  labors.  And,  again,  my  own  favorite  idea  has  been 
that  women’s  clubs  should  form  the  basis  of  a universal  and  united 
womanhood — an  order  distinctive  as  that  of  the  knights  of  the  olden 
time,  composed  of  women  able  to  command,  but  willing  to  serve  ; 
women  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  whatever  is  noble  and  true  and 
good  in  womanhood  ; women  willing  to  labor  and  to  wait,  so  far  as 
they  themselves  are  concerned,  but  jealous  for  the  honor,  anxious 
for  the  reputation  of  their  sex,  and  more  ready  to  honor  than  to  re- 
ceive it.  Is  this  a very  Utopian  idea?  I think  not.  There  are 
plenty  of  such  women,  but  they  are  busy  in  the  church,  in  the  sewing 
society,  or  in  the  nursery,  and  they  are  fenced  in  by  a high  wall  of 
prejudice  which  they  themselves  cannot  look  over,  much  less  step 
over,  and,  if  they  could,  the  pressure  from  behind  and  from  before, 
the  tyranny  of  social  and  domestic  influence,  would  prevent  it.  ” She 
expressed  the  opinion  that  ‘ ‘ the  great  error  of  a republican  form  of 
government  is  that  it  makes  no  provision  for  the  employment  and  in- 
corporation of  women  in  some  department  or  other  of  State  and 
national  affairs.  Monarchies  recognize  the  female  right  of  succession, 
and  create  a privileged  class — the  honors,  emoluments,  and  duties  of 
which  women  share.  A republic  is  the  only  form  of  government 
which  does  not  in  any  way  recognize  the  existence  of  women,  except 
as  a creature  to  be  punished.”  She  went  on  at  considerable  length  to 
enumerate  the  disabilities  of  women  in  America,  and  to  state  what 
Sorosis  proposed  toward  their  removal  or  mitigation.  The  con- 
clusion of  her  spirited  address  was  as  follows:  “You  are  known 
abroad  as  well  as  at  home,  and  from  all  quarters  comes  the  cry, 

* Only  continue  to  live — your  life  is  our  hope.’  We  shall  live — live 
to  see  the  Woman’s  Club  the  conservator  of  public  morals,  the  up- 
rooter  of  social  evils,  the  defender  of  women  against  women  as  well* 
as  against  men,  the  preserver  of  the  sanctities  of  domestic  life,  the 
synonym  of  the  brave,  true,  and  noble  in  women.  This  is  the  mis- 
sion of  the  Woman’s  Club,  this  is  the  mission  of  Sorosis.  I pledge 
your  future,  ladies,  only  from  your  past.  ” 


At  the  close  of  the  year  1869  the  membership  of  Soro- 
sis had  increased  from  the  fourteen  with  which  the  actual 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


29 


organization  began,  to  nearly  a hundred,  and  much  had 
been  done  toward  arranging  and  perfecting  the  basis 
upon  which  the  Club,  with  slight  modifications,  has  con- 
tinued to  exist.  Standing  committees  on  literature,  art, 
music  and  the  drama  had  been  formed,  and  the  office  of 

Custodian,”  afterward  enlarged  to  Custodia,”  created 
and  filled.  The  idea  of  this  was  to  furnish  a sort  of  in- 
itiatory experience  to  the  younger  members  of  the  Club, 
to  give  them  charge  of  the  properties,  and  make  them 
supervisors  and  assistants  of  the  attendants  at  lunch, 
especially  with  reference  to  guests.  The  plan  has 
worked  well,  and  the  Custodia  ” are  a valued  part  of 
the  organization  of  to-day. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  Mrs.  Croly  declined  a re- 
nomination, and  the  choice  for  president  fell  upon  Mrs. 
Charlotte  B.  Wilbour,  a lady  of  exceptional  ability,  asso- 
ciated with  Mrs.  Croly  in  the  founding  and  early  work  of 
the  Club,  and  admirably  well  fitted,  by  personal  quali- 
fications and  the  possession  of  leisure,  for  the  position  of 
leader  of  a still  young  and  struggling  society. 

Mrs.  Wilbour  instituted  a series  of  lectures  on  Health 
and  Dress  Reform  for  Women,  to  be  given  by  medical 
women  in  various  halls  and  in  the  vestries  of  churches, 
which  were  well  attended,  and  did  much  toward  arousing 
the  interest  of  women  in  physiological  questions.  She 
assisted  many  women  in  their  efforts  to  obtain  the  recog- 
nition of  the  public,  and  gave  an  impetus  to  worthy 
work,  in  and  out  of  Sorosis,  which  has  left  a lasting  im- 
press. Mrs.  Wilbour  was  elected  President  for  five  suc- 
cessive years,  and,  besides  instituting  entertainments  in 
behalf  of  needy  individuals  and  for  literary  and  social 
purposes,  gave  a series  of  “ Valentine  ” evenings,  at  her 
own  house,  on  the  Fourteenth  of  February  of  three  sue- 


30 


soROSis : 


cessive  years,  to  which  each  member  and  guest  was  in- 
vited to  contribute  ; the  contributions,  many  of  them  of 
a highly  respectable  literary  character,  being  afterward 
collected  and  printed  in  book  form  for  presentation  to 
the  participants.  Her  crowning  work  was  the  revival  of 
the  idea  of  the  Congress,”  as  proposed  by  Mrs.  Paulina 
Wright  Davis,  and  the  Woman’s  Parliament,”  as  pro- 
posed by  Mrs.  Croly,  and  the  fusion  of  both  these  in  a 
scheme  which  resulted  in  the  movement  known  as  the 

Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Women.” 

At  a business  meeting  of  Sorosis  on  June  2,  1873,  the 
President  (Mrs.  C.  B.  Wilbour)  stated  her  desire  that 
Sorosis  should  develop  upon  a broader  basis.  She 
thought  some  more  positive  action  might  be  taken  to 
lead  others.  The  Club  was  often  asked  to  co-operate 
with  individuals  in  enterprises  that  had  previously  sug- 
gested themselves  to  the  minds  of  some  of  its  members  ; 
why  should  not  Sorosis  itself  inaugurate  a movement  that 
would  cover  the  ground  and  unite  these  interests  ? She 
then  spoke  of  a Congress,”  and  proposed  that  Sorosis, 
through  its  able  Secretary,  Miss  Alice  Fletcher,  should 
address  a letter  to  representative  women  everywhere,  as 
far  as  they  were  known  and  it  was  practicable,  asking 
their  co-operation  in  a work  which  could  not  fail  to  be  of 
lasting  importance,  and  urged  on  the  part  of  every  mem- 
ber a strong  personal  effort  to  make  the  movement  a 
worthy  one,  its  object  the  highest  good  of  women.  It 
tvas  accordingly  voted  that  a Call  ” should  be  issued 
(which  was  done  in  July,  1873)  for  a convention  of 
women,  to  be  held  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  to  discuss 
and  specify  the  nature  and  object  of  the  association  to  be 
formed.  A further  notice,  called  a Messenger,”  signed 
by  the  officers  of  Sorosis,  was  sent  to  women  in  different 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


31 


parts  of  the  country  who  have  conquered  an  honorable 
place  in  reform  work,  inviting  them  to  give  their  names 
for  a ‘‘Call  ” to  a “Woman’s  Congress.”  On  August  23,  at 
a meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  Sorosis  at  the 
house  of  the  president,  a mass  of  correspondence  was 
read,  giving  a voluminous  and  hearty  response  to  the 
“ Messenger.”  A “ Call  ” was  accordingly  prepared  and 
sent  out,  signed  by  nearly  a hundred  and  fifty  of  the  best 
known  women  of  the  day.  In  this  “Call”  it  was  declared 
that  “ At  the  conference  we  hope  to  found  an  association, 
at  the  annual  gathering  of  which  shall  be  presented  the 
best  ideas  and  the  most  advantageous  methods  of  the 
foremost  thinkers  and  writers.  Therefore  we  solicit  the 
presence  or  responsive  word  of  all  accordant  associations 
of  women,  and  of  women  teachers,  preachers,  professors, 
physicians,  artists,  editors,  leading  capitalists,  and  practi- 
cal philanthropists.” 

In  the  deliberations  at  the  preliminary  meetings  it  was 
decided  that  the  object  was  “ not  to  secure  an  enlarged 
membership,  but  to  gather  the  earnest  few  who  should 
constitute  a deliberative  assembly  upon  the  best  interests 
of  their  sex,”  and  it  was  also  resolved  “that  no  one  sub- 
ject should  receive  undue  attention.”  Letters  of  inquiry 
and  encouragement  poured  in  to  the  committee  having 
the  matter  in  charge,  and  upward  of  sixteen  hundred 
letters  and  circulars  were  sent  to  prominent  women  in 
this  country  and  Europe.  On  the  evening  previous  to 
the  first  session  of  the  future  “ Congress,”  a meeting  was 
held  of  all  the  signers  of  the  “Call  ” then  in  New  York,  at 
which  the  order  of  exercises  was  indicated  ; and  on  the 
morning  of  October  16,  1873,  a large  assemblage  of 
women  met  at  the  Union  League  Theatre,  in  New  York, 
and  proceeded  to  organize.  Mrs.  Wilbour  declining  to 


32 


SOROSIS : 


act  as  president,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Livermore  and  other  offi- 
cers were  then  balloted  for,  a list  of  which  is  too  long  for 
insertion  here  and  not  essential  to  this  brief  record. 

A three  days'  meeting  then  followed,  ladies  only  ad- 
mitted during  the  day,  but  both  sexes  in.  the  evening. 
The  meetings  increased  in  interest,  and  elicited  great 
and  growing  enthusiasm. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  papers  read  at  the  first 
‘^Congress": 

“How  Can  Women  Best  Associate?”  Julia  Ward 
Howe. 

“ Enlightened  Motherhood.”  Augusta  Cooper  Bristol. 
“ The  Inviolable  Home.”  C.  B.  Wilbour. 

“ The  Co-Education  of  the  Sexes.”  Mrs.  E.  C.  Stanton, 
“A  Collegiate  Education  for  Women.”  Caroline  A. 
Soule. 

“ No  Home  and  the  No  Home  Influences.”  Laura  M. 
Bronson. 

“ The  Higher  Education  of  Women.”  Prof.  Maria 
Mitchell. 

“ Normal  Higher  Education.”  Miss  Frances  E.  Wil- 
lard. 

“Woman’s  Work  in  the  Pulpit  and  Church.”  Rev. 
Augusta  J.  Chapin,  and  Rev.  Phebe  A.  Hanaford. 

“ The  Relation  of  Woman  to  Her  Dress.”  Mrs.  Abba 
G.  Woolson. 

“ Woman’s  Place  in  Government.”  Mary  F.  Eastman. 
“ The  Enfranchisement  of  Woman.”  Isabella  Beecher 
Hooker. 

“ The  Relation  of  Woman  to  the  Temperance  Cause.” 
Elizabeth  K.  Churchill. 

“Practical  Culture.”  Emma  Marnsedel. 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


33 


Kindergarten.”  Miss  E.  P.  Peabody. 

“ Temperance.”  Harriet  N.  H.  Goff. 

“ Endowments  for  Women's  Colleges.”  Catharine  E* 
Beecher. 

“ Of  the  Needs  and  Claims  of  Women  Teachers.'’ 
Catharine  E.  Beecher. 

On  the  Cheering  Prospects  of  Women.”  Mrs.  Stowe 
and  Miss  Beecher. 

“ Women  in  the  Medical  Profession.”  Mary  Putnam- 
Jacobi. 

“ The  Relation  of  Woman’s  Work  in  the  Household  to 
the  Work  Outside.”  Rev.  Antoinette  Brown  Blackwell. 

Woman  in  the  Legal  Profession.”  Phebe  A.  Cousins. 

There  were  also  letters  read  from  the  Crown  Princess 
of  Germany,  Jean  Ingelow,  Frances  Power  Cobbe,  Emily 
Faithful,  Alice  B.  Lee  Geyt,  Arethusa  Hall,  M.  Mere- 
wether,  Catharine  M.  Johnston,  Rev.  Ada  C.  Bowles, 
Elizabeth  Stuart  Phelps,  C.  M.  Severance,  Catharine 
A.  F.  Stebbins,  Lina  B.  Burned  of  Lausanne,  and  the 
‘‘  Corneclee  ” of  Florence,  Italy. 

This  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Women  has 
held  an  annual  Congress  ” every  year  since,  in  various 
cities  of  the  North  and  West,  and  has  done  an  incalculable 
work  in  arousing  and  stimulating  women  of  various  sec- 
tions to  intellectual  life  and  activity. 

In  the  spring  of  1874  Mrs.  Wllbour  went  abroad, 
leaving  the  First  Vice-President,  Rev.  Phebe  Hanaford, 
to  fill  the  presidential  chair,  which  she  did  with  marked 
ability,  contributing  many  valuable  papers  to  the  literary 
work  of  the  Club,  and  impressing  the  strength  of  her 
conscience  and  convictions  upon  the  general  tone  and 
spirit  of  the  membership  in  a very  high  degree. 


34 


soRosis : 


In  1875  Mrs.  Croly  was  re-elected  president,  a posi- 
tion she  continued  to  fill  up  to  March,  1886.  In  May, 
1875,  a “May  Festivar' was  held,  notable  for  the  num- 
ber of  distinguished  men  and  women  it  brought  to- 
gether, and  also  for  the  presence  of  the  famous  jour- 
nalist and  editor  who  had  said  in  a leading  editorial,  in 
1868,  that  if  a Woman’s  Club  held  together  for  one  year, 
a good  many  people  would  find  it  necessary  to  revise 
their  opinion  of  women.  Called  upon  to  retract  hi^s 
opinion,  he  did  so  in  a complete,  honorable,  and  manly 
manner.  It  was  in  the  great  banqueting  hall  at  Del- 
monico’s,  on  the  corner  of  Fourteenth  Street  and  Fifth 
Avenue,  before  the  up-town  house  was  built,  that  the 
festival  was  held  ; and  it  was  draped  with  the  flags  of  all 
nations,  while  among  the  guests  were  Mrs.  Julia  Ward 
Howe,  of  the  Woman’s  Club  of  Boston,  and  leading 
representatives  of  all  the  higher  fields  of  labor  in  which 
women  are  engaged.  On  this  occasion  Mrs.  Julia  Ward 
Howe  told  how  little  she  had  expected,  and  how  much 
she  had  received,  of  benefit,  from  her  association  with  a 
woman’s  club.  Miss  Anna  C.  Brackett  made  a memora- 
ble speech  on  behalf  of  teachers  and  their  work  ; and 
brilliant  addresses  were  made  by  such  well  known  gen- 
tlemen as  Colonel  Thomas  Knox,  Hon.  John  Russel 
Young,  John  Swinton,  and  others.  An  extract  from 
the  brief  address  of  the  president  will  show  the  con- 
structive basis  upon  which  the  work  of  the  Club  was 
projected. 

‘‘We  have  invited  you  here  to  improve  our  mutual  acquaintance, 
to  extend  to  you  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  to  eat  with  you 
the  salt  that  represents  good  will  and  fraternity.  We  know  that 
ignorance  is  the  creator  of  prejudice,  and  that  the  more  we  know 
the  more  we  can  tolerate  ; perhaps  we  have  thought  that  closer 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


35 


acquaintance  would  make  those  who  knew  and  liked  us  a little,  like 
us  better,  and  prove  to  those  who  have  not  known  us  at  all,  that  a 
Woman’s  Club  is  nothing  monstrous  or  unnatural.  Having  you  here 
we  intend  to  embrace  the  opportunity  to  tell  you  in  a very  few  words 
what  the  principal  object  of  Sorosis  is,  and  of  what  elements  it  is 
composed,  and  then  you  can  judge  in  what  we  are  better  or  worse 
than  the  average  male  club  of  the  period.  Our  membership  is 
divided  up  into  Committees,  the  work  of  which  is  to  keep  en  rapport 
with  whatever  belongs  to  their  department,  especially  when  it  relates 
, to  the  doings  of  their  own  sex  ; and  in  bringing  the  results  to  the 
social  meetings  of  the  Club — presenting  summaries  of  the  facts,  and 
discussing  the  questions  that  grow  out  of  them,  so  that  the  knowl- 
edge of  one  and  the  opportunities  of  one  in  any  direction  shall,  in  a 
certain  sense,  become  the  knowledge  and  opportunities  of  all.  More- 
over, properly  systematized  and  understood,  the  work  of  the  Club 
will  become  the  history  of  what  is  being  done  by  and  for  women,  as 
well  as  a record  of  new  events  in  the  world  of  intelligent  activity. 
We  do  not  paint  pictures,  perhaps,  but  we  want  to  know  all  about 
those  who  do,  and  if  it  is  a woman,  what  kind  of  pictures  she  paints, 
and  if  she  gets  more  money  than  she  would  for  making  a shirt  or 
dress.  As  a club  we  do  not  get  up  dramatic  entertainments,  but  we 
want  to  know  how  the  drama  affects  the  interests  and  welfare  of 
women,  socially,  mentally,  morally,  physically  and  pecuniarily,  and 
whether  we  want  to  train  our  daughters  in  that  direction  for  a liveli- 
hood. We  are  not  even  much  to  boast  of  in  the  way  of  philanthropy, 
for  we  prefer  to  find  out  what  have  been  the  results  of  other  people’s 
giving  to  giving  ourselves,  unless  it  is  a case  that  unmistakably 
appeals  to  human  sympathy  and  can’t  wait  for  the  discussion  of  the 
‘ question.’  This,  gentlemen  and  ladies,  will  give  you  an  idea  of  how 
we  contrive  to  pass  our  time  shut  out  from  the  intellectual  masculine 
occupations  of  smoking,  drinking,  and  playing  cards,” 

During  that  year  the  Committee  on  Education ''  was 
substituted  for  Committee  on  Higher  Education,  and 
Committee  on  House  and  Home  for  Sanitary  Com- 
mittee ; a Standing  Committee  on  Journalism  was  cre- 
ated, which  has  since  been  resolved  into  the  office  of 


3^ 


soROsis : 


Journalist/'  In  November,  1876,  a petition  was  pre- 
pared and  presented  by  Sorosis  to  the  two  great  educa- 
tional institutions  of  New  York  City,  viz.,  the  University 
of  the  City  of  New  York  and  Columbia  College,  praying 
that  Test  Examinations  be  organized  for  women  on  the 
basis  of  those  offered  by  Harvard,  and  that,  further, 
these  schools  should  grant  the  advantages  of  their  cur- 
ricula to  young  women  as  well  as  to  young  men.  It 
further  stated  that  the  step  had  been  taken  with  a full 
knowledge  of  all  that  a new  departure  like  this  involves, 
and  from  an  earnest  conviction  that  the  time  had  arrived 
when  opportunities  should  be  as  freely  offered  to  young 
women  as  to  young  men.  It  was  urged  that 

First — The  immediate  and  obvious  advantage  of  the 
carrying  out  of  this  movement  will  be,  first,  to  raise  the 
standard  of  education  in  our  already  excellent  private 
schools,  and  furnish  a test  of  their  efficiency,  and  the 
character  of  the  work  done,  of  which  the  public  can 
judge,  and  which  will  confer  an  inestimable  benefit  upon 
successful  competitors,  in  the  effort  to  obtain  honorable 
recognition  and  pecuniary  reward." 

Secondly — This  effort  is  beyond  measure  important, 
as  being  the  first  in  the  metropolis  which  extends  that 
recognition  to  women  already  accorded  in  Boston  ; in 
Ann  Arbor,  Michigan ; in  Syracuse,  and  other  parts  of 
the  United  States  ; and  the  tardy  justice  having  been 
done,  it  ought  to  be  made  complete,  and  worthy  of  its 
source,  and  of  New  York  itself." 

Thirdly — ‘Tt  is  beyond  question  that  the  city  of  New 
York  offers  the  most  varied  opportunities  for  the  cultiva- 
tion by  women  of  the  arts  and  the  professions ; and  it 
is  essentially  desirable  that  its  standard  of  education 
should  be  the  highest,  its  provisions  the  most  liberal 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


37 


and  perfect  for  preparation  for  an  active  or  studious 
career.'’ 

The  proposition  was  subsequently  seconded  by  a de- 
termined effort  on  the  part  of  a large  number  of  the 
most  influential  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  New  York  City, 
and  by  the  strong  and  earnest  co-operation  of  Dr.  Bar- 
nard, the  able  president  of  Columbia  College  ; but  it  was 
not  successful. 

The  club  life  of  Sorosis  is  naturally  restricted  by  its 
avoidance  of  the  expensive  responsibility  of  a club- 
house, but  its  enjoyment  has  been  greatly  enhanced  by 
its  fortunate  and  permanent  choice  of  quarters — their 
agreeable  and  refined  character,  and  their  possession 
of  all  needed  provision,  while  imposing  only  an  equal 
and  moderate  responsibility.  Regular  meetings  are  held 
twice  in  every  month,  on  the  first  and  third  Mondays ; 
the  first  for  social  purposes — music,  the  reading  of 
papers  and  discussion,  preceded  by  a lunch.  This  is 
known  as  social  ” day,  and  to  these  meetings  guests 
may  be  invited  by  members.  The  third  Monday  is 
business  ” day.  The  meetings  on  these  days  are  sim- 
ply for  the  transaction  of  Club  business.  They  are 
usually  short ; begin  at  1 1 a.m.,  and  terminate  with,  in- 
stead of  being  preceded  by  a lunch. 

Each  social  day  is  under  the  auspices  of  a standing 
committee,  which  furnishes  the  literary  part  of  the  pro- 
gramme. I do  not  use  the  word  entertainment  for  the 
reason  that  these  exercises  are  more  for  the  development 
and  exercise  of  the  talent  of  the  membership  than  for 
the  mere  purpose  of  amusing  an  audience.  But  this 
very  fact,  together  with  the  diversity  and  suggestive- 
ness, if  not  decided  originality,  of  the  papers  and 
discussions,  never  fails  of  exciting  interest  among  in- 


38 


soROsis  : 


telligent  and  discriminating  women,  whether  guests  or 
members. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  sentiment  cherished  by  absent 
members,  I give  a little  poem,  sent  from  England  for  an 
anniversary  occasion,  by  Ella  Dietz  Clymer  : 


A SONG  FOR  SOROSIS. 

Sweetheart  over  the  sea, 

What  shall  I send  to  thee  ? 

What  shall  I send  to  the  queen  of  June? 

An  English  rose,  or  a spring-like  tune  ? 

A red,  red  rose  of  the  summer  time 
Hid  'neath  the  snows  of  a winter's  rhyme  ? 

Sweetheart  over  the  sea. 

This  would  I send  to  thee — 

A plaintive  song  that  should  make  thee  sad, 

A sweet  wild  rose  that  should  make  thee  glad. 

For  until  thou  hast  gazed  on  sorrow’s  face 
Thou  never  canst  know  the  rose’s  grace. 

Sweetheart  over  the  sea. 

This  would  I send  to  thee — 

A song  that  should  echo  every  cry 
From  suffering  hearts  beneath  the  sky  ; 

Strong  words  that  might  wake  thee  to  hear  and  know 
The  depth  of  this  world’s  wild  sob  of  woe. 


Sweetheart  over  the  sea. 

This  would  I send  to  thee — 

A mystic  rose  whose  power  should  prove 
That  the  answer  to  every  grief  is  love  ; 

Though  the  thorn  may  pierce,  and  the  red  wound  smart. 
The  healing  balm  lies  within  the  heart. 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


39 


Sweetheart  over  the  sea, 

A rose  and  a song  for  thee, 

But  ’neath  the  snow  the  blossom  lies. 

And  the  song  is  cold  as  the  dull  gray  skies  ; 

When  the  clear  bright  blue  shall  fortell  the  spring, 

The  bud  will  bloom  and  the  bird  take  wing. 

Ella  Dietz. 


London,  26,  1876. 


In  the  month  of  March  the  annual  election  of  officers 
takes  place,  and  the  third  Monday  of  that  month  instead 
of  being  devoted  to  business  is  set  apart  for  the  An- 
niversary ” dinner.  This  is  usually  a brilliant  occasion. 
The  ladies  invite  guests,  and  come  arrayed,  as  for  a 
dinner-party,  in  handsome  toilets,  and  wearing  flowers. 
The  tables,  too,  are  adorned  with  flowers  ; and  as  every 
member  is  invited  to  contribute  something — speech,  song, 
toast  or  story,  the  after-dinner  result  is  varied  and 
original. 

Once  a year,  too,  on  the  third  Thursday  in  January, 
Sorosis  gives  a reception  and  dinner  at  Delmonico’s,  to 
which  gentlemen  are  invited,  and  in  the  exercises  of 
which  they  participate.  The  dinner  given  by  Sorosis, 
and  the  then  ‘‘Press”  Club  of  New  York,  unitedly, 
seventeen  years  ago,  was  the  first  great  public  dinner  at 
which  women  ever  sat  down  upon  equal  terms  with  men, 
paying  their  own  way  and  sharing  the  honors  and  the 
exercises ; and  the  dinners  given  by  Sorosis,  upon  which 
occasions  the  gentlemen  have  been  the  guests  of  the 
ladies,  have  been  the  largest  ever  given  by  any  associa- 
tive body  in  New  York  City,  testing  the  capacity  of  the 
great  banqueting  hall  beyond  reasonable  limits,  and 
gathering  men,  as  well  as  women,  distinguished  in  every 
walk  of  life. 


40 


soROSis : 


One  of  the  functions  of  Sorosis  and  kindred  societies 
is  the  recognition  of  good  work  accomplished  by  women, 
as  some  offset  to  the  social  marks  of  distinction  bestowed 
by  men  upon  men.  Miss  Emily  Faithfull  was  honored 
by  such  a reception  at  the  hands  of  Sorosis  on  her  first 
visit  to  this  country,  and  while  Mrs.  Wilbour  was  presi- 
dent ; and  almost  every  woman  of  eminence  who  has 
visited  this  country,  or  is  known  here,  has  been  a guest 
of  the  Club,  the  president,  or  some  one  of  the  members 
during  the  past  ten  years.  A memorable  occasion  was 
that  of  a complimentary  reception  tendered  to  Mrs. 
Martha  J.  Lamb  on  the  completion  of  her  admirable 
History  of  the  City  of  New  York,  a work  involving 
the  patient  labor  and  research  of  more  than  ten  years. 
Foremost  representatives  of  the  histrionic  profession 
have  also  been  thus  recognized,  while  a larger  number 
of  well  known  women  in  the  different  professions  are 
enrolled  in  the  membership. 

Sorosis  has  never  claimed  to  be  a philanthropic  or 
charitable  organization  ; in  fact,  it  persistently  disclaims 
any  benevolent  object  in  its  existence,  except  the  general 
one  of  collective  elevation  and  advancement.  The  aim 
of  its  philanthropic  committee  is  not  so  much  the  execu- 
tion of  philanthropic  schemes  or  the  forwarding  of  in- 
dividual enterprises,  as  inquiry  and  investigation  into 
causes  and  conditions,  with  a view  to  individual  en- 
lightenment, into  methods  best  suited  to  reduce  the 
amount  of  evil  and  suffering,  and  advance  the  sum  total 
of  right-doing  and  happiness.  Previous  to  the  formation 
of  the  Committee  on  Philanthropy  ” as  a standing  com- 
mittee, an  “Emma  Willard  Fund  ''  had  been  instituted, 
named  for  an  honorary  member  of  Sorosis  and  famous 
educator,  the  object  of  which  was  to  provide  scholarships 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


41 


in  some  good  educational  institution,  for  poor  but  de- 
serving girls.  One  was  obtained  and  given,  but  some 
time  after  the  formation  of  the  committee  before  men- 
tioned, the  remainder  of  the  fund,  amounting  to  a very- 
few  dollars,  was  transferred  to  a fund  created  and  held 
by  the  philanthropic  committee  for  special  purposes. 
Between  1878  and  1884  there  was  given  by  this  com- 
mittee, under  the  chairmanship  of  Mrs.  Henry  Herzman, 
fifty  dollars  (1878-9)  to  the  Fruit  and  Flower  Mission 
free  passes  to  Europe  for  a consumptive  woman  and 
newly-born  child  ; also  a supply  of  clothing  for  mother 
and  baby  ; fifty  dollars  by  the  Club,  through  the  com- 
mittee, for  the  yellow  fever  sufferers  at  Memphis  ; a 
beautiful  floral  gift  to  the  West  Point  Soldiers’  Burial 
Ground.  In  May  of  1879,  a large  box  of  well-assorted 
clothing  was  sent  to  the  Mayor  of  Milton,  Penn.,  for  the 
relief  of  sufferers  by  fire  in  that  town.  The  following 
autumn  six  entertainments  were  projected  and  carried 
out  by  the  chairman  and  her  Committee,  designed  to 
furnish  funds  to  fit  up  club-rooms,  but  the  Club,  as  a 
whole,  not  wishing  to  change  its  quarters,  the  proceeds, 
amounting  to  seven  hundred  dollars  over  and  above 
expenses,  were  paid  over  to  the  treasurer  of  Sorosis  to 
increase  its  fund  ; at  the  same  time  the  Emma  Willard 
Fund  ” was  merged  in  the  “ Committee  on  Philanthropy,” 
and  the  small  sum  remaining  to  its  credit  (four  dollars 
and  eleven  cents)  was  increased  by  the  chairman  from 
her  private  purse  to  one  hundred  dollars  and  made  the 
nucleus  of  a Philanthropic  Fund,”  from  which  fifty 
dollars  was  given  to  the  Working  Women’s  Protective 
Union.”  In  1881,  three  entertainments  were  given  by 
the  philanthropic  committee,  the  proceeds  of  which 
(over  expenses)  were  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  to 


42 


soROSis  : 


which  Mrs.  Pendleton  Higgins  added  a donation  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Of  the  whole  amount,  two 
hundred  and  eighty-one  dollars  were  disbursed  on  behalf 
of  the  Club  to  needy  persons.  During  the  same  year  a 
large  package  of  clothing  was  sent  to  Michigan,  also  a 
large  trunkful  of  garments  to  the  Woman’s  National 
Relief  Association,  for  use  at  life-saving  stations. 

In  1882  a benefit  was  projected  for  the  mission  church 
of  which  the  Rev.  Phebe  A.  Hanaford  was  the  then  pas- 
tor, and  a lecture,  in  response  to  request,  kindly  given  by 
Mrs.  Julia  Ward  Howe,  at  the  residence  of  the  chairman, 
which  netted  two  hundred  and  seventy-four  dollars,  after 
all  expenses  were  paid.  To  increase  the  “Philanthropic 
Fund,”  impaired  by  liberal  donations,  the  chairman  gave 
at  her  residence  in  1883  an  entertainment,  the  literary 
part  of  which  consisted  of  an  illustrated  lecture  on  Japan, 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cooper,  and  the  social  part,  as  usual,  of 
a subsequent  reception,  and  collation,  of  a most  enjoy- 
able character.  In  December  of  that  year  the  Club  voted 
one  hundred  dollars  as  a Christmas  gift  to  be  divided 
between  two  charities,  the  two  decided  upon  being  the 
Children’s  Aid  and  Charity  Organization  Societies.  The 
same  year  was  given  one  hundred  dollars  to  a widow  as 
a loan,  and  one  hundred  dollars  to  a member.  Ten  dol- 
lars also  to  a young  woman  worker  in  a type  foundry, 
disabled  by  illness,  and  the  only  support  of  an  invalid 
father. 

In  1884  and  beginning  of  1885,  one  hundred  dollars 
was  disbursed,  in  sums  of  twenty-five  dollars  each,  to  a 
needy  woman  artist;  twenty-five  dollars  each  to  two  stu- 
dents of  a technical  school,  through  Dr.  Anna  Dinsmore 
French,  and  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  funeral  expenses 
of  a destitute  teacher  of  elocution.  Sorosis  also  on  one 


ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


43 


occasion  conducted  the  funeral  exercises  of  one  of  its 
members,  Rev.  Phebe  A.  Hanaford  preaching  the  funeral 
sermon,  two  others.  Miss  Clara  E.  Stutsman  and  Mrs. 
Clementine  Lazar  Studwell  singing  the  beautiful  hymns, 
“ Nearer,  My  God,  to  Thee,'’  and  one  of  Phebe  Cary's. 
Sorosis  also  took  care,  till  she  died,  of  a destitute  woman, 
who  had  been  a public  reader,  and  paid  a part  of  her 
funeral  expenses.  In  the  spring  of  1885  Mrs.  Herzman 
resigned  her  chairmanship  of  the  Committee  on  Philan- 
thropy, having  furnished,  each  year,  excellent  papers  for 
discussion  on  her  social  day,"  and  leaving,  after  all  the 
outlay,  a balance  in  bank  of  three  hundred  and  fifty-three 
dollars. 

The  following,  among  the  questions  discussed,  will 
show  the  experience  and  grasp  of  subject  brought  to 
bear  upon  the  philanthropic  idea  : 

Does  the  present  system  of  philanthropy,  as  adminis- 
tered by  public  charity  and  private  benefaction,  operate 
to  the  best  interests  of  the  poor  ? " 

(1883)  Resolved^  “That  it  is  more  truly  philanthropic 
to  furnish  the  children  of  the  poor  instruction  in  indus- 
trial arts  than  in  the  higher  branches  of  the  schools." 

Resolved^  “ That  it  is  not  charity  the  feeble  and  imper- 
fect need  so  much  as  aid  and  opportunity  for  exercise 
and  development.  The  results  of  individual  benevolence 
must  always  be  temporary  and  partial,  since  it  is  a law 
that  everything  thrives  in  proportion  to  the  development 
of  its  own  powers.  While,  therefore,  we  may  resort  to 
charity  as  palliative  of  existing  evils,  we  must  rely  on  the 
spread  of  education,  and  the  knowledge  of  better  prin- 
ciples, to  produce  a growth,  and  public  opinion  that  may 
permanently  remove  them."  It  would  be  impossible  to 
give  even  a summary  of  the  club  work  done  in  Sorosis 


44 


SOROSIS  : ITS  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY. 


by  individual  members,  but  among  the  public  work  must 
be  mentioned  a series  of  “ People’s  Lectures,”  instituted 
by  Miss  Sarah  E.  Fuller,  and  given  principally  by  mem- 
bers of  Sorosis — Mrs.  Prof.  Bronson,  Rev.  Phebe  A. 
Hanaford,  and  Dr.  Anna  Dinsmore  French  being  among 
the  number,  in  the  chapel  of  Rev,  Heber  Newton’s 
church.  Mrs.  Erminie  Smith,  when  chairman  of  the 
Science  Committee,  also  invited  participation  in  a course 
of  studies  in  Natural  History,  which  received  the  valu- 
able aid  of  Prof.  Bickmore,  of  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  and  proved  highly  interesting  and  instructive. 

In  summing  up  the  work  accomplished  by  women’s 
clubs,  the  most  important  is  this  : They  have  opened  the 
door  to  women  everywhere — there  are  no  social  activities 
now  from  which  they  are  excluded.  One  can  only  realize 
the  difference  by  recalling  society  as  it  existed  twenty 
years  ago,  before  the  first  woman’s  club  was  founded, 
and  women  had  not  yet  been  admitted,  as  Alice  Cary  ex- 
pressed it,  above  the  salt.” 

It  may  also  be  said  in  regard  to  Sorosis  that  its  growth 
has  been  steady,  the  last  social  meeting  of  the  present 
club  year,  February  (1886),  having  been  the  largest  and 
one  of  the  most  successful  in  its  history  ; while  a request 
on  behalf  of  the  chapters  of  two  Universities,  to  be  per- 
mitted to  organize  an  ‘‘  Inter-collegiate  Sorosis,”  taking 
the  name  and  insignia,  is  evidence  of  the  intellectual  po- 
sition it  has  acquired  among  the  educated  and  aspiring 
young  women  of  the  country. 


